HOUSE BILL NO. 5043
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND POPULATION DEVELOPMENT,
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND POPULATION DEVELOPMENT,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008“.
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State upholds and promotes responsible parenthood, informed choice, birth spacing and respect for life in conformity with internationally recognized human rights standards.
The State shall uphold the right of the people, particularly women and their organizations, to effective and reasonable participation in the formulation and implementation of the declared policy.
This policy is anchored on the rationale that sustainable human development is better assured with a manageable population of healthy, educated and productive citizens.
The State likewise guarantees universal access to medically-safe, legal, affordable and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information thereon even as it prioritizes the needs of women and children,among other underprivileged sectors.
SEC. 3. Guiding Principles. - This Act declares the following as basic guiding principles:
a. In the promotion of reproductive health, there should be no bias for either modern or natural methods of family planning;
b. Reproductive health goes beyond a demographic target because it is principally about health and rights;
c. Gender equality and women empowerment are central elements of reproductive health and population development;
d. Since manpower is the principal asset of every country, effective reproductive health care services must be given primacy to ensure the birth and care of healthy children and to promote responsible parenting;
e. The limited resources of the country cannot be suffered to, be spread so thinly to service a burgeoning multitude that makes the allocations grossly inadequate and effectively meaningless;
f. Freedom of informed choice, which is central to the exercise of any right, must be fully guaranteed by the State like the right itself;
g. While the number and spacing of children are left to the sound judgment of parents and couples based on their personal conviction and religious beliefs, such concerned parents and couples, including unmarried individuals, should be afforded free and full access to relevant, adequate and correct information on reproductive health and human sexuality and should be guided by qualified State workers and professional private practitioners;
h. Reproductive health, including the promotion of breastfeeding, must be the joint concern of the National Government and Local Government Units(LGUs);
i. Protection and promotion of gender equality, women empowerment and human rights, including reproductive health rights, are imperative;
j. Development is a multi-faceted process that calls for the coordination and integration of policies, plans, programs and projects that seek to uplift the quality of life of the people, more particularly the poor, the needy and the marginalized;
k. Active participation by and thorough consultation with concerned non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs) and communities are imperative to ensure that basic policies, plans, programs and projects address the priority needs of stakeholders;
l. Respect for, protection and fulfillment of reproductive health rights seek to promote not only the rights and welfare of adult individuals and couples but those of adolescents’ and children’s as well; and
m. While nothing in this Act changes the law on abortion, as abortion remains a crime and is punishable, the government shall ensure that women seeking care for post-abortion complications shall be treated and counseled in a humane, non-judgmental and compassionate manner.
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined as follows:
a. Responsible Parenthood - refers to the will, ability and cornmitTrient of parents to respond to the needs and aspirations of the family and children more particularly through family planning;
b. Family Planning - refers to a program which enables couple, and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and to have the information and means to carry out their decisions, and to have informed choice and access to a full range of safe, legal and effective family planning methods, techniques and devices.
c. Reproductive Health -refers to the state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its funcitions and processes. This implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so, provided that these are not against the law. This further implies that women and men are afforded equal status in matters related to sexual relations and reproduction.
d. Reproductive Health Rights - refers to the rights of individuals and couples do decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children; to make other decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence; to have the information and means to carry out their decisions; and to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health.
e. Gender Equality - refers to the absence of discrimination on the basis of a person’s sex, in opportunities, allocation of resources and benefits, and access to services.
f. Gender Equity - refers to fairness and justice in the distribution of benefits and responsibilities between women and men, and often requires. women-specific projects and programs to eliminate existing inequalities, inequities, policies and practices unfavorable too women.
g. Reproductive Health Care - refers to the availability of and access to a full range of methods, techniques, supplies and services that contribute to reproductive and sexual health and well-being by preventing and solving reproductive health-related problems in order to achieve enhancement of life and personal relations. The elements of reproductive health care include:
1. Maternal, infant and child health and nutrition;
2. Promotion of breastfeeding;
3. Family planning information end services;
4. Prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications;
5. Adolescent and youth health;
6. Prevention and management of reproductive tract infections (RTIs), HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmittable infections (STIs);
7. Elimination ofviolence against women;
8. Education and counseling on sexuality and sexual and reproductive health;
9. Treatment of breast and reproductive tract cancers and other gynecological conditions;
10. Male involvement and participation in reproductive health;,
11. Prevention and treatmentof infertility and sexual dysfunction; and
12. Reproductive health education for the youth.
h. Reproductive Health Education - refers to the process of acquiring complete, accurate and relevant information on all matters relating to the reproductive system, its functions and processes and human sexuality; and forming attitudes and beliefs about sex, sexual identity, interpersonal relationships, affection, intimacy and gender roles. It also includes developing the necessary skills do be able to distinguish between facts and myths on sex and sexuality; and critically evaluate. and discuss the moral, religious, social and cultural dimensions of related sensitive issues such as contraception and abortion.
i. Male involvement and participation - refers to the involvement, participation, commitment and joint responsibility of men with women in all areas of sexual and reproductive health, as well as reproductive health concerns specific to men.
j. Reproductive tract infection (RTI) - refers do sexually transmitted infections, sexually transmitted diseases and other types of-infections affecting the reproductive system.
k. Basic Emergency Obstetric Care - refers to lifesaving services for maternal complication being provided by a health facility or professional which must include the following six signal functions: administration of parenteral antibiotics; administration of parrenteral oxyttocic drugs; administration of parenteral anticonvulsants for pre-eclampsia and iampsia; manual removal of placenta; and assisted vaginal delivery.
l. Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care - refers to basic emergency obstetric care plus two other signal functions: performance of caesarean section and blood transfusion.
m. Maternal Death Review - refers to a qualitative and in-depth study of the causes of maternal death with the primary purpose of preventing future deaths through changes or additions to programs, plans and policies.
n. Skilled Attendant - refers to an accredited health professional such as a licensed midwife, doctor or nurse who has adequate proficiency and the skills to manage normal (uncomplicated) pregnancies, childbirth and the immediate postnatal period, and in the identification, management and referral of complication in women and newborns.
o. Skilled Attendance - refers to childbirth managed by a skilled attendant under the enabling conditions of a functional emergencyobstetric care and referral system.
p. Development - refers to a multi-dimensional process involving major changes in social structures, popular attitudes, and national institutions as well as the acceleration of economic growth, the reduction of inequality and the eradication of widespread poverty.
q. Sustainable Human Development - refers to the totality of the process of expending human choices by enabling people to enjoy long, healthy and productive lives, affording them access to resources needed for a decent standard of living and assuring continuity and acceleration of development by achieving a balance between and among a manageable population, adequate resources and a healthy environment.
r. Population Development - refers to a program that aims to: (1) help couples and parents achieve their desired family size; (2) improve reproductive health of individuals by addressing reproductive health problems; (3) contribute to decreased maternal and infant mortality rates and early child mortality; (4) reduce incidence of teenage pregnancy; and (5) enable government to achieve a balanced population distribution.
SEC. 5. The Commission on Population (POPC0NI). - Pursuant to the herein declared policy, the Commission on Population (POPCOM) shall serve as the central planning, coordinating, implementing and monitoring body for the comprehensive and integrated policy on reproductive health and population development. In the implementation of this policy, POPCOM, which shall be an attached agency of the Department of Health (DOH) shall have the following functions:
a. To create an enabling environment for women and couples to make an informed choice regarding the family planning method that is best suited to their needs and personal convictions;
b. To integrate on a continuing basis the interrelated reproductive health and population development agenda into a national policy, taking into account regional and local concerns;
c. To provide the mechanism to ensure active and full participation of the private sector and the citizenry through their organizations in the planning and implementation of reproductive health care and population development programs and projects;
d. To ensure people’s access to medically safe, legal, quality and affordable reproductive health goods and services;
e. To facilitate the involvement and participation of non-government organizations and the private sector in reproductive health care service delivery and in the production, distribution and delivery of quality reproductive: health and family planning supplies and commodities to make them accessible and affordable to ordinary citizens;
f. To fully implement the Reproductive Health Care Program with the following components:
(1) Reproductive health education including but not limited to counseling on the full range of legal and medically-safe family planning methods including surgical methods;
(2) Maternal, pen-natal and post-natal education, care and services;
(3) Promotion of breastfeeding;
(4) Promotion of male involvement, participation and responsibility in reproductive health as well as other reproductive health concerns of men;
(5) Prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications; and
(6) Provision of information and services addressing the reproductive health needs of the poor, senior citizens, women in prostitution, differently-abled persons, and women and children in war AND crisis situations.
g. To ensure that reproductive health services are delivered with a full range of supplies, facilities and equipment and that service providers are adequately trained for reproductive health care;
h. To endeavor to furnish local Family Planning Offices with appropriate information and resources to keep the latter updated on current studies and research relating to family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition;
i. To direct all public hospitals to make available to indigent mothers who deliver their children in these government hospitals, upon the mothers request, the procedure of ligation without cost to her;
j. To recommend the enactment of legislation and adoption of executive measures that will strengthen and enhance the national policy on reproductive health and population development;
k. To ensure a massive and sustained information drive on responsible parenthood and on all methods and techniques to prevent unwanted, unplanned and mistimed pregnancies, it shall release information bulletins on the same for nationwide circulation to all government departments, agencies and instrumentalities, non-government organizations and the private sector, schools, public and private libraries, tri-media outlets, workplaces, hospitals and concerned health institutions;
l. To strengthen the capacities of health regulatory agencies to ensure safe, high-quality, accessible, and affordable reproductive health services and commodities with the concurrent strengthening and enforcement of regulatory mandates and mechanisms;
m. To take active steps to expand the coverage of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), especially among poor and marginalized women, to include the full range of reproductive health services and supplies as health insurance benefits; and
n. To perform such other functions necessary to attain the purposes of this Act.
The membership of the Board of Commissioners of POPCOM shall consist of the heads of the following AGENCIES:
1. National Economic DevelopmentAuthority (VEDA)
2. Department of Health (DOH)
3. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
4. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
5. Department of Agriculture (DA)
6. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
7. Department of Education (DepEd)
8. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
9. Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
10. University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI)
11. Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAFI)
12. National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPQ
13. National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW)
14. National Youth Commission (NYC)
In addition to the aforementioned, members, there shall be three private sector representatives to the Board of Commissioners of POPCOM who shall come from NGOs. There shall be one (1) representative each from women, youth and health sectors who have a proven track record of involvement in the promotion of reproductive health. These representatives shall be nominated in a process determined by the above-mentioned sectors, and to be appointed by the President for a term of three (3)years.
SEC. 6. Midwives for Skilled Attendance. -Every city and municipality shall endeavor to employ adequate number of midwives or other skilled attendants to achieve a minimum ratio of one (1)for every one hundred fifty (150) deliveries per year, to be based on the average annual number of actual deliveries or live births for the past two years.
SEC. 7. Emergency Obstetric Care. - Each province. and city shall endeavor to ensure the establishment and operation of hospitals with adequate and qualified personnel that provide emergency obstetric care. For every 500,000 population, there shall be at least one (1) hospital for comprehensive emergency obstetric care and four (4) hospitals for basic emergency obstetric care.
SEC. 8. Maternal Death Review. - All LGUs, national and local government hospitals, and other public health units shall conduct maternal death review in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by the DOH in consultation with the POPCOM.
SEC. 9. Hospital-Based Family Planning. -Tubal ligation, vasectomy, intrauterine device insertion and other family planning methods requiring hospital services shall be available in all national and local government hospitals, except: in specialty hospitals which may render such services on an optional basis. For indigent patients, such services shall be fully covered by PhilHealth insurance and/or government financial assistance.
SEC. 10. Contraceptives as Essential Medicines. - Hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine devices, injectables and other allied reproductive health products and supplies shall be considered under the category of essential medicines and supplies which shall form part of the National Drug Formulary and the same shall be included in the regular purchase of essential medicines and supplies of all national and lord hospitals and other government health units.
SEC. 11. Mobile Health Care Service. -Each Congressional District shall be provided with a van to be known as the Mobile Health Care Service (MHOS) to deliver health care goods and services to its constituents, more particularly to the poor and needy, as well as disseminate knowledge and information on reproductive health: Provided, That reproductive health education shall be conducted by competent and adequately trained persons preferably reproductive health care providers: Provided, further, That the full range of family planning methods, both natural and modern, shall be promoted.
The acquisition, operation and maintenance of the MRCS shall be funded from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of each Congressional District.
The MHCS shall be adequately equipped with a wide range of reproductive health care materials and information dissemination devices and equipment, the latter including but not limited to, a television set for audio-visual presentation.
SEC. 12. Mandatory Age-Appropriate Reproductive Health Education. - Recognizing the importance of reproductive health rights in empowering the youth and developing them into responsible adults, Reproductive Health Education in an age-appropriate manner shall be taught by adequately trained teachers starting from Grade 5 up to Fourth Year High School. In order to assure the prior training of teachers on reproductive health, the implementation of Reproductive Health Education shall commence at the start of the school year one year following the effectivity of this Act. The POPCOM, in coordination with the Department of Education, shall formulate the Reproductive Health Education curriculum, which shall be common to both public and private schools and shall include related population and development concepts in addition to the following subjects and standards:
a. Reproductive health and sexual rights;
b. Reproductive health care and services;
c. Attitudes, beliefs and values on sexual development, sexual behavior and sexual health;
d. Proscription and hazards of abortion and management of post-abortion complications;
e. Responsible parenthood.
f. Use and application of natural and modern family planning methods to promote reproductive health, achieve desired family size and prevent unwanted, unplanned and mistimed pregnancies;
g. Abstinence before marriage;
h. Prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other, STIs/STDs, prostate cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer and other gynecological disorders;
i. Responsible sexuality; and
j. Maternal, peri-natal and post-natal education, care and services.
In support of the natural, and primary right of parents in the rearing of the youth, the POPCOM shall provide concerned parents with adequate and relevant scientific materials on the age-appropriate topics and manner of teaching reproductive health education to their children.
In the elementary level, reproductive health education shall focus, among others, on values formation.
Non-formal education programs shall likewise include the abovementioned reproductive Health Education.
SEC. 13. Additional Duty of Family Planning 0ffice. - Each local Family Planning Office shall furnish for free instructions and information on family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition to all applicants for marriage license.
SEC. 14. Certificate of Compliance. - No marriage license shall be issued by the Local Civil Registrar unless the applicants present a Certificate of Compliance issued for free by the local Family Planning Office certifying that they had duly received adequate instructions and information on family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition.
SEC. 15. Capability Building of Community-Based Volunteer Workers. - Community-based volunteer workers, like but not limited to, Barangay Health Workers, shall undergo additional and updated training on the delivery of reproductive health care services and shall receive not less than 10% increase in honoraria upon successful completion of training. The increase in honoraria shall be funded from the Gender and Development (GAD) budget of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
SEC. 16. Ideal Family Size. - The State shall assist couples, parents and individuals to achieve their desired family size within the context of responsible parenthood for sustainable development and encourage them to have two children as the ideal family size. Attaining the ideal family size is neither mandatory nor compulsory. No punitive action shall be imposed on parents having more than two children.
SEC. 17. Employers’ Responsibilities. - Employers shall respect the reproductive health rights of all their workers. Women shall not be discriminated against in the matter of hiring, regularization of employment status or selection for retrenchment.
All Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) shall provide for the free delivery by the employer of reasonable quantity of reproductive health care services, supplies and devices to all workers, more particularly women workers. In establishments or enterprises where there are no CBAs or where the employees are unorganized, the employer shall have the same obligation.
SEC. 18. Support of Private and Non-government Health Care Service Providers. - Pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof, private reproductive health care service providers, including but not limited to gynecologists and obstetricians, are encouraged to join their colleagues in non-government organizations in rendering such services free of charge or at reduced professional fee rates to indigent and low income patients.
SEC. 19. Multi-Media Campaign. - POPCOM shall initiate and sustain an intensified nationwide multi-media campaign to raise the level of public awareness on the urgent need to protect and promote reproductive health and rights.
SEC. 20. Reporting Requirements. - Before the end of April of each year,the DOH shall submit an annual report to the President of the Philippines, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on a definitive and comprehensive assessment of the implementation of this Act and shall make the necessary recommendations for executive and legislative action. The report shall be posted in the website of DOH and printed copies shall be made available to all stakeholders.
SEC. 21. Prohibited Acts. - The following acts are prohibited:
a) Any health care service provider, whether public or private, who shall:
1. Knowingly withhold information or impede the dissemination thereof, and/or intentionally provide incorrect information regarding programs and services on reproductive health including the right to informed choice and access to a full range of legal, medically-safe and effective family planning methods;
2. Refuse to perform voluntary ligation and vasectomy and other legal and medically-safe reproductive health care services on any person of legal age on the ground of lack of spousal consent or authorization.
3. Refuse to provide reproductive health care services to an abused minor, whose abused condition is certified by the proper official or personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or to duly DSWD-certified abused pregnant minor on whose case no parental consent is necessary.
4. Fail to provide, either deliberately or through gross or inexcusable negligence, reproductive health care services as mandated under this Act, the Local Government Code of 1991, the Labor Code, and Presidential Decree 79, as amended; and
5. Refuse to extend reproductive health care services and information on account of the patient’s civil status, gender or sexual orientation, age, religion, personal circumstances, and nature of work; Provided, That all conscientious objections of health care service providers based on religious grounds shall be respected: Provided, further, That the conscientious objector shall immediately refer the person seeking such care and services to another health care service provider within the same facility or one which is conveniently accessible: Provided, finally, That the patient is not in an emergency or serious case as defined in RA 8344 penalizing the refusal of hospitals and medical clinics to administer appropriate initial medical treatment and support in emergency and serious cases.
b) Any public official who prohibits or restricts personally or through a subordinate the delivery of legal and medically-safe reproductive health care services, including family planning;
c) Any employer who shall fail to comply with his obligation under Section 17 of this Act or an employer who requires a female applicant or employee, as a condition for employment or continued employment, to involuntarily undergo sterilization, tubal ligation or any other form of contraceptive method;
d) Any person who shall falsify a certificate of compliance as required in Section 14 of this Act; and
e) Any person who maliciously en ges in disinformation about the intent or provisions of this Act.
SEC. 22. Penalties. - The proper city or municipal court shall exercise jurisdiction over violations of this Act and the accused who is found guilty shall be sentenced to an imprisonment ranging from one (1) month to six (6) months or a fine ranging from Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) to Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. If the offender is a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the president, treasurer, secretary or any responsible officer. An offender who is an alien shall, after service of sentence, be deported immediately without further proceedings by the Bureau of Immigration. An offender who is a public officer or employee shall suffer the accessory penalty of dismissal from the government service.
Violators of this Act shall be civilly liable to the offended party in such amount at the discretion of the proper court.
SEC. 23. Appropriations. - The amounts appropriated in the current annual General Appropriations Act for reproductive health and family planning under the DOH and POPCOM together with ten percent (10%) of the Gender and Development (GAD) budgets of all government departments, agencies, bureaus, offices and instrumentalities funded in the annual General Appropriations Act in accordance with Republic Act No. 7192 (Women in Development and Nation-building Act) and Executive Order No. 273 (Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive Development 1995-2025) shall be allocated and utilized for the implementation of this Act. Such additional sums as may be necessary for the effective implementation of this Act shall be Included in the subsequent years’ General Appropriations Acts.
SEC. 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health shall promulgate, after thorough consultation with the Commission on Population (POPCOM), the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), concerned non-government organizations (NGOs) and known reproductive health advocates, the requisite implementing rules and regulations.
SEC. 25. Separability Clause. - If any part, section or provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 26. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, Orders, issuances, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 27. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation.
MAJOR IMPLICATIONS TO RECIPIENTS
http://www.petitiononline.com/xxhb5043/
1. EMPLOYERS: They shall provide free reproductive health care services, supplies, devices and surgical procedures (including vasectomy and ligation) to their employees, and be subjected to both imprisonment and/or a fine for non-compliance. (Section 17 states that employers shall provide for free delivery of reproductive health care services, supplies and devices to all workers more particularly women workers. (Definition of Reproductive Health and Rights Section 4, paragraph g, Section 21, Paragraph c and Section 22 on Penalties)
2. HEALTH CARE SERVICE PROVIDERS: They shall provide reproductive health care services such as giving information on family planning methods and providing services like ligation and vasectomy, regardless of the patient's civil status, gender, religion or age, and be subjected to imprisonment and/or a fine for non-compliance. (Section 21 on Prohibited Acts, Letter a, Paragraphs 1 to 5 and Section 22 on Penalties)
3. MARRIED MEN AND WOMEN: Husband or wives can undergo a ligation or vasectomy without consent or knowledge of the sexual partner. (Section 21 on Prohibited Acts, Letter a, Paragraph 2)
4. PARENTS/GUARDIANS/SCHOOLS: Children from age 10 to 17 shall be taught their sexual rights and the means to have a satisfying and "safe" sex life as part of their school curriculum. (Section 12 on Reproductive Health Education and Section 4 Definition of Family Planning and Productive Health, Paragraph b, c and d)
5. FILIPINO CITIZENS: Any person shall be subjected to imprisonment and/or pay a fine, for expressing an opinion against any provision of this law, if such expression of opinion is interpreted as constituting "malicious disinformation." (Section 21 on Prohibited Acts, Paragraph f and Section 22 on Penalties) The State shall take authority over a minor child who was raped and found pregnant. (Section 21, a, no.3)
6. HEALTH CARE CONSUMERS: Contraceptives shall be reclassified as essential medicines (Section 10) and government funds shall be allocated to reproductive services apart from basic services (Section 23).
14 comments:
about this article. i can say that i will agree if ever this new law will be applied to our country since we as Filipinos knows that our country is on the poor status and is encountering lots of problems right now is that we should be supporting new laws like this because this would help us improve our status. We all know that we are having different problems right now and if we are to support this kind of laws this would be a big benefit for each people and our country. since it is a about a house bill about limiting number of family members this would have a big impact to our country and which all will benefit us. for example, if its approved , the problem with uncontrollable growth of population in our country will be lessen at least a few percent. after all since with this new law it is subject to have fine for those people who are going to have more than the maximum number of family members ,there would be at least the fear of violating the law and with this somehow it will be controlling the people and let them just follow the law. Another is that due to uncontrollable growth of population the problem of spreading the problem about countrywide poverty can also be somehow resolved because if those people who belongs to the lower class of society which most of them are the one who belongs to the problem of the government will be lessen because if they were to subject this people to this law. they may be controlling the growth of population specially the population that are contributing to the problem of the country. number of people who are malnourished and is poor are controlled. The problem of being jobless would also be lessen that they might be able to provide more opportunities to this people if the were to have enough and controllable population. in this article also, it is mentioned that it is more likely that abortion might become legal in the sense of controlling the growth of population.We all know that killing lives of innocent lives are against our will and ethics but i think they were just doing this not to punish people but help to improve this people for the present and the future.It is also mentioned some factors that this laws were going to use to utilize this law like . (a.) responsible parenthood : it is necessary that as parents or a head of a family the should be able to supply the needs of their family but how can a parent be responsible if for their family does not have discipline for their selves. that they continue to grow their family for thyey were not thinking if they can supply and support it .(b)family planning : which i think was not really can help. yes, it is for a couple to somehow visualize their plans about their futures .thus this method only applies to couple or married people but as of now that many young people are exposed early to premarital sex and they are contributing to the problem of the country. also presence of unwanted pregnacies. I think that this law was made for the government will be able to achieve their goals of giving / improving health status of the people in this country. About population development. this law really would be a big help bacause if tghere would be a lesser and controllable population. provision of the needs of every citizen will be more effective because if our country will be able to control the growth of population. the government's budget for health will fit onthe nees of it's people and every citizen will have the chance to improve one's health status. i think that this law will be a big help also for everything because since that this focuses on the health of the people inthe country, other factors will be also have the answer and will somehow resolve other problems regards to this. Because if the citizen of this country will have a good health status they will be able to comply to the activities they need to do to help thefirs selves improve. for an example: if a person who has poor status of health, he will become weak and he wont be able to do things he needed to do, he will not be able to do job to earn money and will not have money to uy his food. he will become sick and will just die without any cure. but if a person is having a good health status he may be able to do everything, he may take a job to earn money and money to buy food and his other needs.this law will be great enough that this would also help decrease the population of people who are infected with sexually transmitted diseases..that as of now is also been a big problem of our country. Also having sex education would be great if it will be taught in students especiall those students that are in the level of curiousity , if this will be taught to them they may visualized possible problems they might encounter and for at least thier curiousity will be answered in any way which i think will help this students to bear in their mind whatare the possible consiquences they might have and how would this affect them and their growth.Also if couples are to have the possible chances of having lots of children they will be subject to undergone surgeries that will help them to controll chances of bearing anymore children if they have reached the required number of childrens. also, i think this law should first under go some survey or interview that they will have to ask comment of some people here in the country that will be affected or will be covered by this law. because i think this will still a big problem because sometimes there are some groups that are ready to argue with this if they are not supporting it because of maybe due to culture and belief differences.. but somehow i think people as of now will understand why our country needs to follow certain new laws like this because they also want improvement for their lives and in their country.If this law will be ok and be approved it will be good because it will change everything.
____CHRISTIAN E. VILLAPANDO___
group22 Lyceum St.Cabrini
I found it interesting when I was reading the “Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008” House Bill No.5043. I was very curious of what it is all about. If it is really good for all of us or does it have also disadvantages. It is good to know that the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress are concerned of what is happening in our society. They conducted an act that will somehow solve a lot of problems and discriminations here in our country and to have safe, high quality, and accessible reproductive health services for all of the women and couples. It is also good to know that one of the purposes of this act is to have a good parenthood because now a days there are lots of parents that already taking for granted their children. One of the reasons of that is poverty and high number of offspring and sometimes they kill their babies through abortion. I am also in favor of teaching the students from grade5 up to 4th year high school about their sexual rights and the means to have a satisfying and safe sex as part of their curriculum. It’s for them to be already aware of what they might get or be when they commit to prenatal sex and let them know that our reproductive organ is just a part of our body and not to test it when we are young. Especially to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. It’s also nice to know that they wanted the contraceptives to be available in all hospitals and pharmacies, and it’s right. With the highlight of the act, honestly it’s somehow good for us because it has a lot of advantages that really helps us to be a responsible individual and to have a good and also responsible family from now on up to the upcoming generation. In my case we are 4 in the family, exactly to the family size the act wanted to implement, I am the youngest with a brother but up to now I want to have a sister or a brother younger to me because I want him/her to take for granted and play, but my parents are too old to have another child. What I mean is every child is a gift from God so who are we to discourage a couple to have many children. It is in every individual and couples if they are responsible enough to have many or small number of children. What’s important is the students to be taught what should be taught to them to have a better understanding of having an average number of families. I’m not saying I’m against of the act, what I want is like teaching every Filipino to be responsible, gender equality, and there are contraceptives you can choose from, it’s with them if they will choose one just not to have a baby.
I just believe in that a baby is gift from God and we must be happy with what we have and what we are. We should just be responsible enough, to be a good parent, a good teacher to our children and students to widen their knowledge about reproductive health care.
Catholic religion reacted as the house bill no. 5043 was discussed.
If the bill becomes a law, i think these are some of the changes that would happen:
Tubal ligation, vasectomy, intrauterine device insertion and other family planning methods will be available at all government hospitals;
Hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine devices, injectibles and other allied reproductive health products and supplies shall be classified as ‘essential medicines’ and will be available at all government clinics and hospitals;
Reproductive health education in age-appropriate manner shall be taught by adequately trained teachers starting from Grade 5 up to 4th year high school; and
To be able to acquire a marriage license, the couple must show the Local Civil Registrar Certificate of Compliance that they received adequate instructions and information on family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition.
As a student and a citizen of the Philippnes, I am aware of the problems encountered in the country and some of which involve the rapid growth of the population. Large number belongs to the underpriviledged. I agree on legalizing family planning because this helps to reduce the cases of unwanted pregnancy and abortion. also, if a person can't afford to feed 4 children, it is best to be educated and be familiar with family planning. In that way, the children can be provided with right education, good clothing, and proper nutrition. These are some of the rights the children should have as they are born in this world. On the issue of Population Control, it is clear that what is best for the country is a population whose growth is controlled to the point that the country can grow economically instead of being burdened by having too high a birth rate. There is no reason for abortion to be legalized although contraception is favored by the government. Regular use of contraceptives effectively forecloses unplanned, mistimed, and unwanted pregnancies so much so that women do not have to resort to abortion and there is no need for the State to legalize abortion.
In the case of having marriage license, I agree on having the couple submit certificate and comply to attend the seminars being offered so that it may enlighten them to the beginning of new life. each should be oriented of having information about family planning, responsible parenthood breastfeeding ang proper infant nutrition. In that way, couples who comply to attending these seminars will not be ignorant and cases of increase in broken families will decrease. It is an advantage for the couple to attend and comply for these are seminars can help them raise children competent enough to be leaders of the country someday. Seminars conducted may help couples to be aware of the life they choose to be living.
Eventhough this bill can resolve some problems in the Philippines, but still there are also disadvantages to it. But then, People of the Philippines can help in making the disadvantages to be advantages by being responsible and being cooperative.
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Katrina Chuck O. Pascua
BSN 4-7 Group22
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I found it interesting when I was reading the “Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008” House Bill No.5043. I was very curious of what it is all about. If it is really good for all of us or does it have also disadvantages. It is good to know that the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress are concerned of what is happening in our society. They conducted an act that will somehow solve a lot of problems and discriminations here in our country and to have safe, high quality, and accessible reproductive health services for all of the women and couples. It is also good to know that one of the purposes of this act is to have a good parenthood because now a days there are lots of parents that already taking for granted their children. One of the reasons of that is poverty and high number of offspring and sometimes they kill their babies through abortion. I am also in favor of teaching the students from grade5 up to 4th year high school about their sexual rights and the means to have a satisfying and safe sex as part of their curriculum. It’s for them to be already aware of what they might get or be when they commit to prenatal sex and let them know that our reproductive organ is just a part of our body and not to test it when we are young. Especially to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. It’s also nice to know that they wanted the contraceptives to be available in all hospitals and pharmacies, and it’s right. With the highlight of the act, honestly it’s somehow good for us because it has a lot of advantages that really helps us to be a responsible individual and to have a good and also responsible family from now on up to the upcoming generation. In my case we are 4 in the family, exactly to the family size the act wanted to implement, I am the youngest with a brother but up to now I want to have a sister or a brother younger to me because I want him/her to take for granted and play, but my parents are too old to have another child. What I mean is every child is a gift from God so who are we to discourage a couple to have many children. It is in every individual and couples if they are responsible enough to have many or small number of children. What’s important is the students to be taught what should be taught to them to have a better understanding of having an average number of families. I’m not saying I’m against of the act, what I want is like teaching every Filipino to be responsible, gender equality, and there are contraceptives you can choose from, it’s with them if they will choose one just not to have a baby.
I just believe in that a baby is gift from God and we must be happy with what we have and what we are. We should just be responsible enough, to be a good parent, a good teacher to our children and students to widen their knowledge about reproductive health care.
VICENCIO, EMMIE ROSE E.
GROUP22 BSN 4-7
The article about “House Bill No. 5043 An act providing for a national policy on reproductive health, responsible parenthood and population development, and for other purposes” in short “Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008“,
At first, I was very curious of what it is all about and while I’m reading the article I found it interesting because it is a new law in our country. I’m happy because the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress enacted this law that will solved the problems of the Filipino people about having their family.
About the school aged children from Grade 5 up to 4th year High School it is good to have a Reproductive Health Education for them to know what is all about and also to put on their mind that it is important and not just a play and also to prevent from sexually transmitted disease. One of the reason why we experienced a crisis in our country is poverty. There are some causes and one of them is uncontrolled growth of population that experienced on the uneducated people so therefore we really need to have a background or knowledge to know it.
About the rights of women seeking care for post-abortion complications even though that abortion is a crime, it is good to have ensure that women shall be treated in non-judgmental and compassionate manner. Using contraceptives are good but it is not a hundred percent sure that you will be safe in your intercourse. Only God knows and give an opportunity that a women will birth a child if you are responsible to have a child or what.
This law will helped us to control the growth of population in our country, really helps us to be a responsible individual and to have a good and responsible family from now up to the next generation.I’m favor for that law but we need first to prepared and know what will be the outcome and also having a self respect to performed and follow that law.
-Caren S. Villapando-
BSN 4-7/ Group 22
I can say that this house bill no.5043 is very helpful to every individual. And it focuses of the REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND POPULATION DEVELOPMENT. They explain very carefully each section and what is the benefit
In this ACT. The people become responsible enough to their children and they give the good education to his or her child and good life but on the other part the people will not agree in this kind of system. In section 3 they said that there is no bias between modern and natural methods and they emphasize this because they say that either of this two you can use and this ACT is connected to section 2. And I think in this section they said that the number and spacing of children. And this section is good because they include the promotion of breastfeeding and the right of every individual base of reproductive health. And this ACT they tell that abortion is a crime and for me it’s better that they include that. And in Section 4 they indicate all and they explain the purpose of this section they indicate about the reproductive health education they tell that this is case to case basic. Example in religion they not allow contraceptive and abortion. And they explain the basic emergency obstetric care and refer to life saving for maternal complication. And what they said the responsibility of a doctor. And they elaborate the important of family planning and all methods and techniques to prevent unwanted, unplanned and mistimed pregnancies. And they indicate the following agencies of Board of Commissioners of POPCOM. In section 6 they indicate the ration of midwives in one municipality. And in Section 7 they tell each province and city have ensure the establishment and operation hospital with adequate and qualified personnel that provide emergency obstetric care. In section 8 they said that all LGU national and local government hospitals and other public health units. In section 9 hospital based family planning they may performed the vasectomy, intrauterine and tubal ligation it patients wants and this type of procedure is legally accepted of law. Section 10 they indicate all the types of contraceptives. In section 11 Mobile Health Care Service in this section is also good because the patients may ask question to a doctor even they will not go to hospital for an advice. Section.12 is good for the children they must need to know about the reproductive health education to avoid incident of early pregnancies. In Section 13 in this section its good because they give information about family planning to avoid over population of city. Section.14 this section is good to be implemented no marriage license shall be issued by local civil registrar unless the applicants presents a certificate to they now the responsibility of parent to their children. In this section 15 they indicated the capability building of community based volunteer workers. It is good to have one in community in case of emergency in community the people to there. Section 16 in this section some people must not agree two children policy. In other part this section is good because we must prevent the over population of our country. Section 17 in this section they tell the responsibility of one employers and they must respect the reproductive health rights of all their workers in section 18 support of private non-government health care service providers this is good to have this because in this section they emphasize to reduced professional fee rates to indigent and low income patients in this section they help the indigent patients to get her discounts. Section 20 reporting requirements is good because the DOH know problem of the country in the field of Health. In this requirement they know what they will need to focus.
--RUBY ANN E. VILLAPANDO---
--BSN 4-7 GROUP 22---
The House Bill no. 5043 which addresses the reproductive health of the men and women in the Philippines, if ever approved, would be beneficial for all, especially those who are affected economically since most of the people who are affected are the ones with the most number of children. Of course, it would not be as beneficial for those who already have quite a large number or children already as compared to those who would only be having a family after the bill is approved, since the ones who already have a large family, even after consulting the health care service providers about family planning, they already have a lot of children already and it would already be difficult to provide for their family and supervise all of their children, while those who would only be building their family after the bill is approved, would not have the same dilemma.
The issues involved in this bill, as I understand, is controlling the population, formal health education for children from grade five to fourth year high school and reproductive health education for people above the age of seventeen. These issues addressed by the House Bill no. 5043 are issues already way before this bill was passed. These issues were also given attention to as proven by the health teachings regarding family planning of the health care providers in the health centers, posters and other means of disseminating information about family planning including birth control, giving of health goods in the health centers, incorporation of reproductive health in the Health subject in schools, etc. Those mentioned ways of controlling the population, dissemination of information and educating of people are also the ways the Reproductive Health Bill plans to do, which is just the same as before the Reproductive Health Bill is submitted, the only difference is that they are more strict about it this time as proven by the penalties cited in the Sec. 22 of the bill: The proper city or municipal court shall exercise jurisdiction over violations of this Act and the accused who is found guilty shall be sentenced to an imprisonment ranging from one month to six months or a fine ranging from Ten Thousand Pesos to Fifty Thousand Pesos or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. If the offender is a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the president, treasurer, secretary or any responsible officer. An offender who is an alien shall, after service of sentence, be deported immediately without further proceedings by the Bureau of Immigration. An offender who is a public officer or employee shall suffer the accessory penalty of dismissal from the government service.
With penalties to be exercised, it is definite that Filipino citizens would follow and cooperate. Bending the law to fit their desires would not be likely to happen as people would be given choices for their preferences and no one would be forced to do anything they don’t want.
Sec. 22 would act as a support for the Sec. 21 which encloses the prohibited acts. This would be effective with the cooperation and support of the people, health care providers and the Commission on Population.
There are a lot of benefits and very little problems that I perceive that would happen. Benefits include enough information fed by the people in charge of disseminating information to children ages ten to seventeen and older people who plan to have a family, health services for all (regardless of age, sexual preference, religion, etc.), involvement of people in planning and implementation of reproductive health care and population development programs and projects; which would really ensure participation of the people since it’s more likely that involvement of the people in the planning phase would mean participation in the implementation of the proposed plan, elimination of discrimination since no health care provider is to deny health services for the people who seek their help, promotion of good mother-child relationship, ensuring of equipped health care providers for providing safe delivery of babies as women are given the right to every health service she needs. Those mentioned are just some of the benefits clearly stated in the House Bill no. 5043, and those benefits surely would not just be the only possible-to-be-acquired benefits as it would surely stem out into more benefits hidden under those mentioned.
Problems are inevitable, but surely, the advantages would outweigh the problems which are more important, and problems that could be encountered would only be minor and could be resolved easily. Such problems I have in mind would stem from the fact that House Bill no. 5043 states that there are services that could be performed on a woman/man without the spouse’s consent, but problems that would result from that situation could be resolved easily between couples with enough discussion, understanding and humility from both parties.
About this article, I think that it is a bill that can help one of the major problems of our country today which is overpopulation.
Since our country is encountering a lot of problems in our economic status, they still give concerns on our society. Like this bill, that is all about Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008.This is how Filipinos will help them to increase their awareness on responsible parenthood, family planning and affordable and accessible health services.
Responsible Parenthood, before they plan marriage, the couples should attend seminars concerning on parenthood because this will help them recognize the needs of their future children and the importance of parent-child bonding, and figure out how they would like be a parent in the future. Poverty among families caused by large size, not enough salary, not enough foods and it is common to uneducated Parents.
Family Planning can help them to enhance their ideas. So the Government should conduct seminar regarding on Family planning Method. Through Family Planning Method, abortion can be prevented and the complications of it.
For the women who are pregnant, they can afford already in hospitals with financial assiatance by the government.
I am favor on issue regarding on teaching the elementary and high school level about the reproductive health, as early as teaching elementary level, will help them increase their awareness, ideas and be knowledgeable enough. Especially the high school students, they are more creative and experimental, they should not test it to prevent unwanted pregnancy, abortion and the sexually transmitted diseases.
For the indigent families, it is good that they can afford to give birth and to pay the hospitalization fee at a lower cost or can be on government hospitals.
If they want Tubal ligation, vasectomy with consent of his or her partner and other oral contraceptives are available now in the government hospitals and it can also be covered by PhilHealth and other financial assistance. And on this, it can limit the number of children in a family.
It’s good news that in every community will have a van so that when emergency occurs, they can easily go to the nearest hospital. It can prevent early complications and fetal death.
Not only women, but also men are involved in participation in reproductive health issues. For the young adolescent with a family already, they should participate in Family Planning seminars so that they will know the family size they fit in.
Though some religous beliefs are not in favor on reproductive health issues, they are pro-life but then we must respect their opinions on it. But in my opinion for practical reasons, we are already overpopulated and we belong to the third world country, we cannot afford to budget the nedds of the people.
If the Bill will be implemented by the law, this will have a big effect on our country like poverty, uneducated families about reproductive issues and the overpopulation growth, can be prevented.
This bill will benefit a lot of families and prevent the over population growth here in our country. For this bill be effective the Filipinos should be cooperative and comply on their needs. It is also a way of improving every Filipinos of our country.
VALDEZ, LALAINE M.
BSN 4-7, GROUP 22
As I’ve read the Article, it’s nice to know that there’s this House Bill that promotes reproductive health, responsible parenthood and population development that focuses mainly and mostly on women of all ages and children. The entire country will surely benefit on this because it will not only provide adequate information but there are responsible persons/ group of people that will disseminate the purpose and content of the said Act for the people to know and understand their rights and responsibilities.
Women on reproductive age are more prone to a lot of abuses such as physical abuse and emotional abuse which is a verbal type and it contributes to a more stressful life/environment. It’s the right of everyone to feel safe and secured all the time, feel love and be loved, a sense/feeling of socially accepted person and to satisfy physiologic needs as stated on Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to be more productive and show creativity because it’s our nature to be creative, everyone has a unique kind of being creative in any aspects of life. Ok., let’s admit that the country experience rapid growth of population, it is obviously seen on news where the reporters or the news anchors featured those families that sleep on streets and serves as their home, usually those families do have a lot of children, 4 or more, with no proper spacing. This Act covers population control through Family Planning, either Natural or Artificial, this methods are effective if one method is supported by another. Catholic churches disagree on this program because they say that it is against the law of God, but the government only wants to control the population, to have a proper spacing of children, not to stop childbearing. The main purpose is to reduce the increasing rate of maternal mortality and morbidity and the child’s increasing rate of malnutrition, it is all because of poverty that eventually results to a major complication on health of every individual involve. Every women who is about to deliver a baby must feel support from his spouse or anyone in the family because she is in pain. There must be readily available stocks of equipments for the delivery. Hospital staffs should be always alert and ensure the safety of the mother and her child.
Family planning is not required/compulsory, the parents do have a choice whether they will engage on this program, of course, it’s their right to refuse if they think that they didn’t need this, but in case that they’ve decided to involve themselves to the said program, it is readily available and can easily acquire with proper guidance. Sex education among 10-17 years old is a good curriculum for the purpose of informing them the advantages and disadvantages of premarital sex and what will be the result of their action.
In most hospitals where we affiliated, physicians specifically OB-Gyne give basic information or ideas about family planning, they give referrals if the couple are interested. It is a good start, a good way of disseminating information. The parents must be matured enough to handle a family responsibilities and it is important for a couple to attend seminars for them to be well informed in terms of importance of responsible parenthood.
-Madinne Antonette H. Unera
BSN 4-7/Group 22 LSC
i agree in this new law because it is all about limiting the number of family members and as we can see now in our country the economic status of all Filipinos is very poor and we all know that one factor of poverty in the Phils. is due to the increasing number of population and if this law will be applied, this will help a lot to lessen the problem in our country., especially this will improve the economic status. this law is very beneficial especially in females. i agree to this law because their principles is good especially on promotion of reproductive health, good services must be rendered especially those poor ones, effective reproductive health care services, giving information on breastfeeding, women empowerments and rights including reproductive health rights. this law mainly focuses on poor families since they have the highest family member, they are the ones who is lack of knowledge regarding family planning and lack of knowledge also on how they will take care of their children and if they got sick, they cant give the medical assistance they need. due to lack of money. with this law, they want to give free medical assistance together with the government to those people in the community especially those people that cant afford the services. this law is very beneficial because they want people to be a responsible parent, that they can be able to give the needs of the children and the family. if the family has only two children, the parents can give their needs compare to those family who have many numbers of children. and this law suggest that a couple or individual must the info to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children. and has the freedom of choice to choose what family planning they want to use. they are also giving info about reproductive health care this will prevent and solve health-related problems and achieve enhancement of life and personal relation. reproductive health cares includes nutrition of maternal, infant and child health, promotion of breastfeeding because many vitamins and nutrients can get by the infant, prevention of abortion and this will be prevented if woman are knowledgeable and has info about family planning , the law provides also about prevention and management of resp. tract infection, HIV/AIDS, and STi's. It also provides education and counseling on sexuality and sexual reproductive health and must especially giving reproductive health education, for the youth law is giving info on reproductive health education which is very beneficial because it gives complete, accurate and relevant info. this law wants also the male to cooperate and give participation in family planning. the law also has the mandatory age for appropriate reproductive health education. this will empower the youth and develop them into a responsible adults.this is very helpful because it will prevent unwanted pregnancies and achieve desired family size and have the info on safe sex. it will also lessen the incidence of abortion and post abortion complications.
govt should also provide needs of the people,must have a trained physician and responsible and good health care providers. in section 10 it says that contraceptives as essential medicines,i agree to this because many people cannot afforded thats why they got pregnant. but if this will we provided as said in the law, the number of population will be lessen. not only the govt is responsible for good reproductive health also the employers will need to cooperate to them. in this law says that they must respect the rights of women which is true, she must get the appropriate health care services, supplies, and devices particular women workers. if our population is too big, theres a tendency that many people will become jobless, because there are less opportunities due to increasing number of population. many people starved and the family cannot give all the needs of their children. this law will be very effective if all of us will cooperate, the govt, DOH and the families and individuals. they should be a responsible parents to achieve all of this and somehow our problem will be lessen.
----MALABUYOC CRISTEL M----
BSN 4-5 /GROUP 22
Poverty is the deprivation of common necessities such as food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking water, all of which determine our quality of life. It may also include the lack of access to opportunities such as education and employment which aid the escape from poverty and/or allow one to enjoy the respect of fellow citizens.
It is one of the major crises that our country is experiencing right now. Many Filipino families have large number of children and their parents cannot support them financially thus the government established House Bill no.5043 also known as the Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008.
As a Filipino citizen, I think that the said Act will help the deteriorating population of our country. The people need medically-safe, legal, affordable and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information about family planning, maternal and child health education, responsible parenthood to uplift the quality of life of the people, more particularly the poor, the needy and the marginalized. This Act will achieved desired family size and prevent unwanted, unplanned and mistimed pregnancies and also it will help to decrease the maternal and child mortality rate and will help to prevent sexually transmitted disease and as well will prevent abortion.
Trinidad, Hecelene A.
BSN 4-7
Manpower is indeed a key element in building a successful society. Our country has been struggling to promote good health through the majority of its people, but inadequacy is still evident, therefore, posing a threat to the future quality of manpower and eventually crippling the nation. In an effort to ensure that the quality of manpower is secured, this act focuses on empowering Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development. These are the key factors in determining the quality of manpower and are the existing points of failure as well.
Everything that is written in the article will help our country improve. But I still doubt of its effectiveness, we all know having a large population is a burden for us, it's a hindrance, but I think it's not just the main reason why we experience poverty. The government itself is reason for poverty. Implementing a law like this will require a big budget for the government. The question is, are they really willing to invest a lot of money for the success of this law? They can implement it but will it be successful?
This will require every Filipino citizen's cooperation to ensure the success of this law. I believe that even though our leaders in the government our perceived to be not effective leaders, we as citizens of our state can still make a change. All of us must cooperate in order to improve and attain our goals. We must do our responsibilities as citizens and be cooperative.
___________________________
UNERA JUAN PAULO N.
BSN 4 - 7 Grp 22
___________________________
House Bill No. 5043
"An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development"
This house bill is very relevant in our country today. Since one of the problem of our country today is the growing population and problems about reproductive health this bill will be very helpful. Every filipino will have an equal access in the reproductive health, both men and women will have same rights and priviledges in terms of deciding about family planning and reproductive health. Our country as well as its citizens will benefit in this house bill.
I am so glad that there was a house bill like this. The government shows that they are aware of the health problems of our country today. This bill shows that the government is really doing what they can do to improve not just the economic status of our country but also the health status of their people.
This bill tackles about equality between men and women that whatever priviledges the women will get the same priviledges will also be given to men, and that their will be an easy access to reproductive health services. This part of the bill will be very helpful especially to the people under the low economic status of our country since we all know that people under this group has the biggest family number.
Responsible Parenthood is also under this bill. This is very timely because nowadays the number of teenage mothers and fathers are increasing. This will provide them knowledge and guidelines on how to be a responsible parents and how to be able to acquire reproductive health. This will also help them to manage their family in the right way.
Population Development is also the goal of this bill. We all know that the population of our coutry is increasing. If this bill will become a law their will be a limit to the number of child a couple could have thus improving our population as well as the health status of our country. I believe that if the population of our country will not be so large the resources especially health care services will be allocated equally for every citizen of our country.
-VILLA, Ma. Ana Princess T.-
Group 22 LSC
Here are some of the potential consequences of the passage into law of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill (HB O5043) which have dawned upon me; to wit:
1.0 BIG BUSINESS, BIGGER MONEY. If RH Bill passes into law, condom suppliers may earn from the Philippine government (which will be mandated to distribute free condoms to 4.9 million youth aged 15-27), PhP 2.548 billion every year. (Or 4.9 million youth times 1 sex act per week times 52 weeks per year times condom usage of 1 piece per sex act times supplier’s price of P10 per piece of condom.) The assumption of a youth engaging in sex at the average of once a week, I am afraid, is in order and conservative. It will be unthinkable for a young student to obey the reminder of his RH teacher or older relatives that abstinence is the most effective birth control method when that young student is aware, the government is duty-bound to provide him or her with free condom for his or her sexual cravings anytime, anywhere. Condom supply is therefore a big business if RH Bill passes into law. Nevertheless, what is bigger money is when government canvassers, signatories of purchase orders, receivers of condom deliveries, as well as check payment signatories and releasers may connive with condom suppliers to price the condom at P 100 per piece instead of P 10. The over price of P 90 per piece of condom will be distributed among the involved government officials. Therefore, due to the passage of the RH Bill, there is an opportunity for a PhP 25.48 billion condom scam to happen.
2.0 BOARS AND GILTS. These 4.9 million youth who are recipients of the government’s free supply of condoms may naturally crave for sex like animals (considering the additional enticement from the immodest mass media and the internet pornography). The young male may act like boar while the young female behaves like gilt that is in heat. This promiscuity or multiple sexual relationships, is probably just a take off point. The Law of Diminishing Extra Satisfaction (as adopted from the psychological and economic law of diminishing marginal utility) that governs pure human and animal endeavors including sexual relations will be fully operational. In other words, if sex will be a preoccupation of the Filipino youth, then the satisfaction that a young male derives having sex with female partner/s, will decrease or wane eventually. He then ventures to partner sexually with his fellow male/s to seek new level of satisfaction. He may push further by engaging in bisexual activities. But most likely he will end up as a pure homosexual. A young female may also follow the same path as she craves for sex and sexual satisfactions. She may graduate as a pure lesbian. But this scenario will not be glaring overnight. It will take a generation – ten years span. This may then translate to the need of a new advocacy – to support the passing into law of the bill on same-sex marriages and divorce in the country.
3.0 POPULATION REDUCTION. The ultimate aim of RH Bill, I understand, is achieving economic prosperity (particularly for the poor) however through population reduction approach. In case the RH Bill is passed, its success will be measured therefore by, among others, whether its respective population reduction target (PRT) is attained. And the critical factor in attaining PRT is the effective distribution and use of condom of the 4.9 million Filipino youth in particular. Effective means here, making a condom available for free, on demand of the youth, either male or female, anywhere, anytime. As mentioned above, this will cost the Philippine government, PhP 2.548 billion every year. If the government will have limited or doesn’t have that amount of taxpayers’ money (for condom purchase and distribution) then the full attainment of the PRT will be jeopardized. Thus RH Law may prove to be ineffective to reduce population in the country. If this is the case, other population reduction measures or Bills will be therefore sought. So there will be a future need to support for the passage into law of Pro-abortion Bills as well as of Pro-euthanasia Bills.
So then, to all the RH Bill advocates, if your support for the passage into law of RH Bill (which may lead to additional opportunity for corruptions in the Philippine government, to transformation of the Filipino youth as homosexuals and lesbians, to eventual murder of unborn babies and to future mercy-killing of senior citizens, etc.) makes your Mama proud of you, then go full speed ahead of your RH Bill advocacy. Otherwise, please resign as a RH Bill supporter and lobby harder for our legislators to vote against RH Bill.
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